Opposite Nguyen Thi Bich Tuyen leaves open the possibility of participating in the 33rd SEA Games with the Vietnam women's volleyball team.
Since winning the 2025 SEA V.League, Bich Tuyen has not appeared in the national team training sessions. She also did not compete for LPB Ninh Binh in the second phase of the national championship, only registered as a caregiver, because her physical condition had not met the requirements due to injury.
The absence of the number 1 explosive of the Vietnam women's volleyball team poses a big problem for coach Nguyen Tuan Kiet, who is strong enough to fill the void left by Bich Tuyen.
In the preliminary list, 3 names were chosen to replace Hoang Thi Kieu Trinh (Information Corps), Dang Thi Kim Thanh (VTV Binh Dien Long An) and Doan Thi Xuan (XMLS Thanh Hoa). These are all athletes with top-level competition experience, but each has a different style.
Among them, Dang Thi Kim Thanh emerged as the most promising candidate. Having announced her retirement in 2023 at the age of 24, Kim Thanh made many people regretful. But after a year, she decided to return and have an impressive comeback in the VTV Binh Dien Long An jersey at the 2025 national championship.
Accordingly, Kim Thanh was transferred from the middle blocker to play in the opposite position. In the semi-finals and finals, the 1999-born hitter played the leading role, scoring regularly and showing steadfastness. She was the one who lifted the team's spirit at the most dangerous moment, contributing greatly to Long An's championship.
In addition, Hoang Thi Kieu Trinh is one of the experienced athletes with a stable playing style, having participated in the national team's main squad many times. Although not as strong in terms of jumping power as Bich Tuyen, Kieu Trinh is capable of keeping the rhythm of the match and accuracy in attack.
In addition, Doan Thi Xuan is considered a reliable backup choice of coach Nguyen Tuan Kiet. She played solidly for Thanh Hoa last season and can take on many roles if necessary.
The absence of Bich Tuyen will certainly reduce the effectiveness of the Vietnam women's team's attack. However, the appearance of Kim Thanh, Kieu Trinh or Doan Xuan can bring many new things, helping the team create a more diverse and balanced playing style instead of depending on an individual.
In the context of changing forces, the 33rd SEA Games will be a big challenge for the Vietnam women's team. With the goal of competing for the gold medal, coach Nguyen Tuan Kiet and his team still have a lot of work to do in the next month.
